New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker. Photo / Greg Bowker
Joseph Parker has been to the top of the world, come down a step after losing his title, is on his way back and wants to take the kids from the Pacific Islands with him.
Parker, born in Auckland to Samoan parents Dempsey and Sala, is launching an initiative in the Islands which will start this week with 1000 rugby balls and basketballs donated to Samoan schools and clubs.
The 26-year-old, in camp in Las Vegas training for his fight against Dillian Whyte in London on July 29, wants others to have the sporting opportunities he has had, starting with getting access to the right equipment and potentially progressing to scholarships and other support.
It will be linked with Team Parker, which until now has been the brand associated with his professional boxing career through 25 fights, but which is about to take a much wider role to incorporate his new goals of giving back to the Pacific.
Team Parker has promised to donate an item of sporting equipment to a school, club or community group in the Islands, starting with Samoa, with every purchase of official Team Parker merchandise which will be available from its website. Rebel Sport and the Pass It Forward initiative are also supporters.
Team Parker will anchor its efforts around the "buy one, donate one" model that has been successful for other social enterprises like New Zealand's "Eat My Lunch", of which Parker is an ambassador.
"Team Parker is focused on my career but I want to start focusing on giving back to the kids and the Islands," Parker told the Herald on Sunday.
"I'm excited because there's a lot of potential and talent in the Islands, which, if it has the right equipment or push to get excited about getting involved, I think we'll see a lot more talent from that side of the world get better and progress on to the world stage.
"It's not only for those who want to be professional athletes," he added.
"It's about getting involved and getting the body working and moving. Everyone needs to do some sort of activity to stay healthy and it's about making it part of your lifestyle.
"Many from the Islands have done well by just making do and credit to them. I remember going back to Samoa and playing volleyball and the ball popped. We were searching around for another one but we couldn't find one and everyone had to go home.
"I've seen it before — sometimes the kids use a shoe for a rugby ball, sometimes they use rolled up socks.
"It sounds simple but if you have something you love playing with it makes it more fun and it makes a difference to your approach if you're serious and want to train properly.
"We want to start with Samoa initially because it's a place I love and know and we can test the initiative there first. Once we cover the schools and villages, we can move on to Tonga, Niue, Fiji."
The initiative will be overseen by Parker's accountants, PricewaterhouseCoopers, who will provide verification every six months that the equipment is being provided as promised.
Parker, meanwhile, said he was in excellent condition as he trains for his comeback fight following the loss of his WBO world heavyweight title to Anthony Joshua in Cardiff in April.
Englishman Whyte will provide a hard-hitting and aggressive opponent and Parker is preparing accordingly.
"When I finished the last fight and went into holiday mode, I actually came back to Las Vegas at a really good weight — I came back at 110kg-111kg," he said. "When the camp started I actually put on weight. I'm sitting around 113kg because I'm doing a lot of conditioning and putting on muscle."